Apple's iPad: Do You Want It? We Do. Maybe.

A "magical" device. That's what Apple chief executive Steve Jobs called the new iPad. Execs from the company said it so often that I began to imagine pixie-dust falling from the ceiling of the Yerba Buena Art Center. But it's not magic; it's practical. And expensive. And useful. Argh!

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A "magical" device. That's what Apple chief executive Steve Jobs called the new iPad. Execs from the company said it so often that I began to imagine pixie-dust falling from the ceiling of the Yerba Buena Art Center, landing gently on our throbbing skulls and slowly but surely lulling us into the belief that Jobs and co had, in fact, introduced something otherworldly.

Even hours later, I'm having trouble sorting out my feelings. I saw the demos, heard the words and even had some hands-on time with the iPad. It is gorgeous. Imagine a MacBook display ripped off its laptop hinge or a much, much bigger iPhone or iPod touch and you get the general idea. The latter is the most appropriate description, and it instantly makes the iPad not magical, but instead quite practical.

Steve Jobs' assertion that the existing 75 million iPhone and iPod touch customers already know how to use this device runs counter to the idea of magical. Magic is something we don't understand and can scarcely believe. Like Jobs said, we know this product.

When I tried it out, I spent zero time figuring out how to use it. The iPad works exactly like an iPhone, for heaven's sake. Nothing enchanted about that.

I tried to look at the iPad in the context of all the questions I received on Twitter, as well as the general confusion I still see swirling around this tablet. It's not a replacement for the iPhone or iPod Touch, nor will it supplant your go-to laptop. Steve Jobs wants it to sit in the middle. I can see that. The device feels like middleware.

It's really not for phone calls, has no physical keyboard (you can buy one as an accessory) or a mouse; once you handle the iPad, you quickly realize that it's way too big for any pocket. (Note to Apple: the back could use some sort of indentation so it rests more comfortably in my hand). The iPad's size alone ensures that this won't enjoy iPhone-like ubiquity. At about 9 inches and 1.5 pounds, you'll take it out when you're on the couch, riding the train and probably on the airplane.

This Reader Won't Save Publishing
I tried out reading The New York Times on it, complete with embedded video. It was nice, but not revolutionary. This device has zero chance of saving the publishing industry. Like any digital platform, it offers an evolutionary possibility to beleaguered print publications, but I saw nothing that made me say, "This is it!"

As expected, the iPad is a reading device. I have to say that the execution of the entire eBooks experience, from the flipstand cover to the iBook store, looks great. As I "flipped" through a book on the iPad, I kept comparing it to my Kindle, which is not as easy to do as you might think.

It's true: both devices have online bookstores, and each presents novels and other books on screen in a semi-traditional print-like format. But the iPad's display is vastly different from the reflective e-ink on the Kindle. At first glance, I think everyone would agree that the iPad's screen looks better, but no one seems to know how if reading books on an LCD screen will cause eye strain. My gut says most people won't mind. We stare at LCD screens at work all day long and I don't see a lot of people walking around the office rubbing their eyes and holding their heads. The gesture-based page-turning is simply awesome.

The nearly-full-size virtual keyboard was a pleasant surprise, not only because Apple included it, but because it seems to work so well. Forget thumb-typing; this device is too big for that, but when I set it down on a table, I was able to type quite nicely. (It did not, however, do anything to improve my horrific typing skills).

Apple didn't deliver on every wish. There's no camera, a surprising omission for something I still think is aimed at people who like to create. Something else Apple left out of the iPad: Verizon! Apple has doggedly stuck with AT&T, an announcement that produced the only audience groan of the whole event.

The biggest disappointment for me, though, is the lack of a stylus. Apple clearly understands that such a large screen invites creativity.

Apple showed off an updated "Brushes" app. Brushes lets you use your fingers to paint and draw. That's nice, but while Apple showed how it can help you create professional level artwork, the artist in me wanted a drawing implement. I guess I'll get that from a third-party company.

One plus: all your iPhone apps will work with the iPad  thanks to pixel doubling  but the real juice is in those that have been enhanced for this new platform. Next: Apple Inside >

About the Author

A 25-year industry veteran and award-winning journalist, Lance Ulanoff is the former Editor in Chief of PCMag.com.
Lance Ulanoff has covered technology since PCs were the size of suitcases, "on line" meant "waiting" and CPU speeds were measured in single-digit megahertz. He's traveled the globe to report on a vast array of consumer and business... See Full Bio

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